When government started subsidizing education for everyone is when the problem started. When government makes something "affordable," it rapidly
becomes unaffordable for everyone. Government has the deepest pockets of all, and universities take advantage of that freely. Who cares about the rest
of us? If we get priced out of the college, government will always pick up our tab ...

Actually, if you research the issue, education costs got out of control when the government stopped giving as much money to public universities back
in the '70s. It was the withdrawal of government support that increased the tuition costs. The federal government realized they could benefit from
subsidizing loans (that, of course, had to be repaid with interest) instead of financially supporting public universities (with earmarks) to keep
costs down for students. The government became the loan shark instead of the supporter.

College has been pushed so heavily in recent years for one reason, to make money.

In fact, many of them are considered non-profit institutions with multi-billion dollar endowments, meaning our tax dollars are already supporting an
industry that has raised it's prices astronomically.

Education is a product at the end of the day, you want to make it free? Okay. Go ahead and found your free university.

I'd rather throw every-single-penny I have in a river than have it taken from me to give to someone who chose to go into debt to purchase a product
with no way of paying for it.

What bank would give out a $120k loan to an 18 year old to buy a house with no way to back it up?

Edit: If you want to see a real eye opener, look at the prices of the universities with the highest amount of private and public funds donated to
them, then research the prices of a college education when the professors at said university got educated.

originally posted by: intrepid
OK. Let's see if I got this straight. I went to university on student loans. I paid off those student loans and now you want MY tax dollars to pay
for YOUR education? Have I got that right?

Your damn right.

You better believe I expect our tax dollars to fund education especially when you take a look at the size of our military budget.

It is far more beneficial for society.

I can't argue with that. I think you guys spend ridiculous amounts on the military. I just don't see that changing any time soon.

We spend ridiculous amounts on the military because no one else in the Western World does. In other words, we subsidize the national security of every
other Western nation.

There are so many options... you can go to a community college, which WILL be FULLY paid for if your parents are low income. Many state schools are
still very affordable as well.

You honestly expect all parents to be market experts like yourself?
sorry but most people take the advice of the school counselers.

If they can't figure out how to get an education without $120k in debt, they probably aren't going to use the education anyway. I don't know where
everyone is coming up with these numbers. Do you all forget that most states and the federal government offer subsidies? In Pennsylvania you will
receive $10,000 per year for 4 years to pay for college expenses if you are coming from a very low income. That will pay for the entire tuition for
many state schools. Now you bring up other expenses, food, lodging, entertainment, etc. Why should that be the responsibility of the state? And if
you pay for college kids, how can you justify not paying for everyone's everything, forever? Almost every single college kid who decides to not get
a job qualifies for food stamps - well over $100/month (won't cover everything, but it helps). You do not NEED a car to go to college, that is an
excessive luxury that many employed people do not even have. Entertainment? What? Go to a party, play a sport, there is so much free entertainment
out there, free concerts, you can go to a bar and drink water, most colleges have movies playing occasionally. Rent, $700 a month? Really? For a
shared room? Move 3 blocks off campus and pay less than half that in most of the country, for your own room.

Basically what you want is for everyone to have a luxury life in college paid for for an indefinite time period... Because a basic education is
ALREADY paid for by the state unless your parents have a good bit of money. Go to community college in PA, you will get $4500 a semester. If the
tuition is $2,000 and books are $500, you have $2,000 either for living expenses or to put away for your 4 semesters at a University. And none of my
considerations count federal student aid of any kind... or scholarships... or other financial options for those willing to work for them.

Your problem is you only see the "self" and not the communal factor in the success of a society or nation. It is OUR responsibility to ensure the
success of every American.

THAT will bring us a bright future, THAT will bring us prosperity not just economically but on a humanitarian level.

And here we go. THAT is the problem.

According to YOU it's up to EVERYONE ELSE to ensure that other's succeed.

THIS is what has been wrong for a very long time now.

No one wants to take personal responsibility anymore.

The younger generation is all about "gimme gimme gimme gimme". They don't want to work for it. They don't want to be responsible for it.

They simply expect for it to be handed to them. They expect others to take care of them. They expect others to pay for everything.

And when it happens? It fails. It always fails.

The world won't die with a bang.....nor will it die with a whimper.

It will die with the words: "I'm Entitled."

Again, you turn this into an argument against socialist ideals and that is NOT what's being discussed.

Education is important to the future of our society. It should be a priority of government. I'd be extremely happy if they eliminated most other
social programs to dump that wasted money into education so people can get a degree without amassing loads of debt. That's how it used to work and
THAT would fix our economy... not giving money to an unemployed single mother of 4 with zero ambition.

originally posted by: onequestion
a reply to: opethPA
You literally can't support yourself you realize that right?
You make your own food and produce your own electricity and buy your car and buy your fuel.
Know who does that, the community around you.
If that community fails so do you.
News flash your not a super hero.

Ha..Cool story.
Awesome and does that community give me that for free or is it earned?
When did I claim to be a super hero?

You want to carry people , many times someone who doesnt warrant it , then have at it and more power to you.
That makes you no better or worse then a person that chooses to earn what they get in life it just makes you a free ride for someone.

originally posted by: intrepid
OK. Let's see if I got this straight. I went to university on student loans. I paid off those student loans and now you want MY tax dollars to pay
for YOUR education? Have I got that right?

Your damn right.

You better believe I expect our tax dollars to fund education especially when you take a look at the size of our military budget.

It is far more beneficial for society.

I can't argue with that. I think you guys spend ridiculous amounts on the military. I just don't see that changing any time soon.

We spend ridiculous amounts on the military because no one else in the Western World does. In other words, we subsidize the national security of every
other Western nation.

Hate to break it to you man but we didn't ask and we don't want. IMO America's foreign policy is really an domestic one. To make the MIC money. We
don't want that but thanks anyways.

When government started subsidizing education for everyone is when the problem started. When government makes something "affordable," it rapidly
becomes unaffordable for everyone. Government has the deepest pockets of all, and universities take advantage of that freely. Who cares about the rest
of us? If we get priced out of the college, government will always pick up our tab ...

Actually, if you research the issue, education costs got out of control when the government stopped giving as much money to public universities back
in the '70s. It was the withdrawal of government support that increased the tuition costs. The federal government realized they could benefit from
subsidizing loans (that, of course, had to be repaid with interest) instead of financially supporting public universities (with earmarks) to keep
costs down for students. The government became the loan shark instead of the supporter.

I want to go to college, but I shouldn't have to pay for it. Therefore, I want everyone else to pay for it via
government.

Your side are the only ones claiming "free." Many of us have used the term "affordable" but I haven't seen anyone say "free."

Your tax dollars are going to support people who don't want to work and would rather suck from the government teet. Is that somehow better than your
tax dollars making it easier for people to get an education?

originally posted by: intrepid
OK. Let's see if I got this straight. I went to university on student loans. I paid off those student loans and now you want MY tax dollars to pay
for YOUR education? Have I got that right?

Your damn right.

You better believe I expect our tax dollars to fund education especially when you take a look at the size of our military budget.

It is far more beneficial for society.

I can't argue with that. I think you guys spend ridiculous amounts on the military. I just don't see that changing any time soon.

We spend ridiculous amounts on the military because no one else in the Western World does. In other words, we subsidize the national security of every
other Western nation.

Hate to break it to you man but we didn't ask and we don't want. IMO America's foreign policy is really an domestic one. To make the MIC money. We
don't want that but thanks anyways.

Well, Canada doesn't want it, but I'm sure there are many nations like Israel (cough cough) who would love it...

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